Chapter 5
He was disappointed but not disheartened when she did not say yes to his proposal that night. It only made him more determined to break down her resistance. He had decided to use any means necessary, and he knew just what he had to do.
He was starting to know her. The more time he was around her, he was figuring her out.
She was velvet with hints of steel. She had integrity and a conscience.
She also had an acute weakness for people who were suffering.
He was going to use that to get her to agree to his proposal.
Combined with his assault on her senses, he would soon have a wedding day and please Christ! A wedding night.
She no longer argued about him popping up almost every night.
He would give her a night or two to miss him and then turn up.
He brought not only little gifts and flowers, but a hand-stitched quilt he saw in an antique store.
A pair of matching crystal vases from the variety store, and something for Galahad as well.
He was getting to her and they both knew it. Tonight, he had surprised her by bringing Chinese food. He had seen the brochure of a popular takeout place a few blocks from her house and stopped to pick something up. The wizened Chinese man knew her by name and beamed a smile at him.
"You must be the boyfriend. Ms. Catherine deserves a good man. Make sure you treat her with respect, or you answer to me."
The veiled threat amused him considering the fact that he was head and shoulders above the man and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds.
But he had nodded in solemn promise, which earned him a free egg roll.
He was also regaled with the stories of how "Ms. Catherine" had been there for him and his wife when their son passed away from leukemia.
"She's a good woman. Not only beautiful but has a good heart."
He already knew that.
Now they were seated in her living room, the boxes set aside. Galahad was sprawled on the rug at his feet, his new chew toy tucked next to him, fast asleep.
"Why don't we open our fortune cookies?" he suggested.
She nodded and cracked hers open, rolling out the thin paper. "'Life is worth living if we have patience,'" she quoted. "Okay. Not very original."
"Mine says:" Tucking his tongue against his cheek, he fabricated: "'By the end of June, you'll be a married man.'" He grinned at the irritated look she threw him.
"Very funny."
"Not really." Putting away the paper, he rose lithely, stepping over the dog carefully as he made his way towards her.
He noticed the way she stiffened as he came closer.
He had been increasing the pressure each time he had been with her.
Kissing her to the point where they were both so heated, it was painful to stop.
He knew what he was doing to her, because it was killing him as well.
But he had to continue. His plan was to have her so weak with desire, she would finally say yes.
He would go back to his place at night and suffer the agony of unfulfilled desire, but so be it.
It somehow helped to know they were both suffering.
"I think I'll go and make some tea."
His hand clamped on her arm as she rose.
"Nice try." He chuckled at the annoyed look on her lovely face. It was a Wednesday night, and she usually had some youth group meeting at her church. Since it only lasted for an hour, he would time her to get home and unwind before making his appearance. He was also getting to know her schedules.
"Don't tell me you're scared."
"I'm not." She tried to wrestle away, but he held her. "I just want some tea and it's getting late. I have school-"
"It's barely nine." He glanced at his watch to confirm. "And I want to hold you."
"You don't just want to hold me." Panic was surfacing. She was losing the stand she had taken and she realized it. Each time he kissed her, she had to fight the urge to go all the way.
"True." He drew her onto his lap, his hands clamping around her narrow waist. She had changed into baggy shorts and a plain white t-shirt. He could see the outline of her nipples through the lace of her white bra.
"I want to do this." One hand cupped her cheek and turned her face upwards. "You don't have a stitch of makeup on and you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And I've seen plenty."
"I bet you have," she said with flashing eyes.
He grinned, pleased at her reaction.
"No need for jealousy, you're the only woman I see."
"For now." She started squirming on his lap, sending his blood pressure soaring.
"If you continue to do that, I won't be responsible for what I do next."
She went still at the look on his face. His eyes dropped to her lips and sent her blood heating up.
"Dean-"
"I want you," he breathed. "Wanting you has become a constant for me.
" He smiled a little whimsically, thumb tracing the outline of her full bottom lip.
"I wonder what I'll do with myself when that's not a thing anymore.
When I can get to have you completely. You see, darling.
" He was lowering his head and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She didn't want to.
Anticipation of his mouth on hers was causing an agony of longing deep inside her.
"I feel everything when I'm with you." He brushed her lips lightly with his, capturing her sigh.
"Deep, wonderful feelings. Emotions so blinding, I cannot comprehend the logic.
" He nibbled at the soft flesh. "Yearning in the pit of my stomach," he soothed the bite with the tip of his tongue and felt her trembling.
"Your breath, the way you smell, like something elusive and fragrant, makes me want to devour you. I have to try and keep myself in check." He parted the seams of her lips with his tongue, but kept the touch light, deliberately so. "I want you more than my next breath."
Her hands came around his neck, helplessly.
With a groan, he bore her back on the cushions, following her down until he was half lying on top of her.
The twists and coils of her hair spilled over the cherry red cushions.
Lifting his head, he stared at her face, taking in the elegant, tapered eyebrows, the smooth curves of her cheeks, the brightness of her golden-brown eyes and the parted lips.
"What is it about you that draws me, pulls me in?" he wondered to himself. "You're thinking I'm going to lose interest."
"Yes." Her voice was hoarse, her throat gone dry.
"No." He shook his head, finger trailing down her cheek, enjoying the silky softness of her skin.
"Never." Bending his head, he kissed her forehead, then her eyes, pressing his lips on her lids and closing them.
He trailed kisses down the pertness of her nose until he was brushing her lips, back and forth, starting all over again, slowly, tantalizing touches that made her want to scream for more.
As if sensing her impatience, he whispered against her mouth. "I want you burning up for me. I want you yearning, the way I've been since I first saw you." His voice had thickened. She felt a jolt going through her when he reached between them to cover her breast.
He took her tongue, teeth toying with it before laving it with his own.
He swallowed her gasp, his body reacting violently to hers.
The only sounds in the quiet room were Galahad snoring and their own rapid breathing.
Outside, it had started raining, soft drops on the window pane, but neither of them noticed.
They were blind and deaf to everything except what was happening between them.
He deepened the kiss subtly and worked the shirt up her flat stomach.
Catherine felt the flesh quivering when he trailed his fingers up and down her torso. His finger dipped into the indentation of her navel, making her jump. The kiss went on endlessly, until they were both drowning in the intensity of it.
He somehow managed to work the shirt up and over her head, tossing it aside before closing his mouth over hers again.
Next came her bra. With his mouth still tormenting hers, he unhooked the clasp and eased it off her shoulders.
The need to feel her nakedness against his chest was unbearable.
Shifting to the side, he dragged off his thin black sweater before lowering himself over her.
The feel of her rigid nipples touching his smooth chest sent arousal pouring through him like molten lava.
Kissing her frantically, he slid further down until he was toying with her nipples.
Catherine felt her resistance collapsing, like a balloon that had the air sucked out of it.
Her fingers dug through his thick blonde hair, body vibrating.
The pain was exquisite, sharp and unbelievable.
Her body arched towards his mouth, a cry escaping her when he started to suckle the rigid flesh.
He was thorough, the taste of her lingering on his tongue.
His hand drifted down her stomach, until he was plunging his hand into the waistband of her shorts and her lace panties.
A groan escaped him when he touched her flesh.
He was hard as steel and just as painful.
His heart was racing, his body slick with sweat. And he could not continue this way.
Lifting his mouth from her breast, he eased up and stared at the nipples made wet from his mouth, before his gaze moved upwards to her face. The look on her face was his undoing. Her eyes were feverishly bright with passion, and her lips were swollen from his ardent attention. And she was panting.
"We have to stop." His voice was harsh, his face hard and taut. "Unless you've changed your mind about-"
"No!" The word was torn from her lips as she sat up hastily.
When she started to grab her shirt, he stopped her. Taking her hand, he forced it downwards until it was pressed against his rigid arousal.